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Minolta 35 II (type a1) |
 Version française |
Manufactured or assembled in Japan from 1953 to 1954.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 11535
See the complete technical specifications
Chronology of cameras Minolta
Traduction de PYP
Minolta started producing Leica copies in 1947, adding quite a lot of modifications over time. The Minolta 35 II model A was introduced in 1953.
As it is often the case with Minolta camera, it is more than just a copy! Minolta added some interesting features to this camera. Since 35A, the back is hinged, which make film loading & unloading easier than on bottom-loaders. The finder, which combines viewfinder and rangefinder, benefits from built-in diopter adjustment! The self-timer has two different positions!
The 35 II model A has a focal plane shutter, with speeds ranging from 1/500 to 1 second, plus Bulb and Time. Speeds from 1/25 to 1 sec are on a separate slow speed dial, in the front of the camera. As usual with screw mount Leica’s and Leica copies, one must wind the film & cock the shutter before changing the speed. Failure to do so might result in damage to the speed mechanism. The rangefinder base is quite comfortable (40mm actual base, 28mm effective base) for a 1950’s rangefinder.
These cameras were very seriously manufactured: the body is made of iron and chrome, and some internal parts are made of copper! No need to say that this sturdy construction impacts the weight (over 700 grams with a lens!). The original lens of the 35 II model A was a 45mm f1:2.8 Super-Rokkor (a 5 elements in 3 groups design). Super-Rokkor are also Super-difficult to find! Hopefully, Minolta 35’s have a standard Leica M39 screwmount and can therefore receive any lens using this mount (Leica lenses, but also Industar, Jupiter, Canon…
Help to identify the Minolta 35 models
by Renaud Laemmli
| Engraving on front | |||||
| Engraving on the top | |||||
| No engraving | |||||
| Chiyoda-Kogaku Osaka | |||||
| Slow speeds with a key lock (sequence 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 readable from front) | |||||
| Frame counter mark oriented toward front beside the "R" | 35 A (type a) | ||||
| Frame counter mark oriented toward the hinge axis | 35 A (type b) | ||||
| Slow speeds without a key lock (sequence 1, 2, 4, 8, 25 readable from front) | 35 A (type c) | ||||
| Minolta 35 et ####* | 35 B (type a) | ||||
| Minolta 35, ####* et C.K.S | |||||
| Rewind button with a visible central axis and the winding of the film is seven perforations | 35 B (type b) | ||||
| Rewind button without central axis | |||||
| The winding of the film is eight perforations No eyelets on the strap No hollow on front under the lens |
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| Slow speeds always readable from the front | 35 C (type a) | ||||
| Slow speed readable from the top | 35 C (type b) | ||||
| Eyelets on the strap Hollow on front under the lens "R" lever under the frame counter disc |
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| Format 24 x 33 mm | 35 D (type a) | ||||
| Format 24 x 34 mm | 35 D (type b) | ||||
| Model E | 35 Model E | ||||
| Model F | 35 Model F | ||||
| Model II | |||||
| C.K.S | |||||
| No "sidewalk" under the rewind knob | |||||
| Slow speeds sequence : 1, 2, 4, 8, 25 | 35 Model II (type a1) | ||||
| Red X between 25 and 8 on the slow speeds knob | 35 Model II (type a2) | ||||
| Chiyoda Kogaku | |||||
| "sidewalk" | |||||
| Accessory shoe with no balls between the screws | 35 Model II (type b1) | ||||
| Accessory shoe with two balls between the screws | 35 Model II (type b2) | ||||
| Model IIB | 35 Model IIB | ||||
*Serial number
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